Staffordshire University is the UK’s foremost digital university, with campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Lichfield and HereEast in East London. Over 20,000 students study on its programmes across the globe and, as an anchor institution, it acts as a ‘catalyst for change’, changing lives locally, regionally, nationally and around the world.

The UK higher education sector is changing rapidly. An increasingly competitive market combined with changing student demographics and post-pandemic reverberations makes higher education a challenging environment. Staffordshire University believes that as an innovative university, taking a business-driven approach to its fundamental contribution to the economy and society, it could lead the field in this new world.

Over the last few years, Staffordshire has worked towards the goals set out in its 2016-2021 strategic plan, which were to a) be in the Top 50% in the UK League Tables b) gain Gold Standard in the Teaching Excellence Framework and c) become financially sustainable in accordance with its Strategic Financial Plan. As it looks forward, the University is focused on its new Towards 2030 Strategy, which was launched in 2022, and focuses on becoming a ‘catalyst for change’.

With a host of awards and nominations under its belt, Staffordshire University is continuing to build on the impressive progress made over the last few years and has much to look forward to in 2023 and beyond, including the recent launch of its brand new £40m Catalyst building, the opening of its net zero carbon forest school and nursery, and the continued expansion of Staffordshire University: London.

The Board of Governors is made up of independent Governors, two staff Governors, two student Governors, and the Vice Chancellor (ex officio). The Independent Governors bring valuable and diverse experience from business, community, education and industry.

As well as being advocates for the University, its staff and students, Governors have strategic oversight of the institution’s activities, which are delivered and managed by the University Executive Board. They make sure that the strategic plan is being delivered, that the University is delivering on its mission to transform people, transform places and transform society and that the University's KPIs are delivered. You can find out more information about becoming a Governor here.

In return, Staffordshire's Governors receive support to develop their professional skills, gain valuable board-level strategic experience within a successful organisation with a £170m turnover, and have the chance for considerable networking opportunities. Furthermore, the University supports Governors with a comprehensive onboarding programme together with professional development opportunities which are fully-funded.

Staffordshire University is looking for Governors who will bring an ability to challenge constructively, be a lateral thinker, and will be able to advise, guide and test others to approach problems in agile ways to ensure that the Staffordshire Board continues to be forward-looking and innovative.

The successful candidates could come from a range of different sectors and roles but they will be a high achieving individual who will have influenced and operated at a senior level in ideally a complex organisation. Strategic planning and commercial / business development experience would be welcomed. Experience of operating in a regulated environment would also be welcomed but is by no means essential.

The University is also open to people with no previous board experience that have the passion and drive: the University will offer a strong on-boarding programme and provide support for people that don't have any governance experience. Above all, they will have a specific commitment to the values, aims and objectives of the University and bring a strong personal commitment to higher education as a public good.

Diversity

As part of its mission to be as inclusive as possible and to welcome diverse backgrounds and perspectives onto the Board, Staffordshire particularly encourages female candidates to apply as well as any other backgrounds which are under-represented.

Governors should be passionate about the transformative role of education, with a commitment to fulfilling this role diligently.

You can find out more about the current Governors and their profiles here. 

This role is unpaid but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed including expenses incurred in the course of undertaking the role including, for example, reimbursement of the reasonable cost of care arrangements for dependents where necessary in order to attend a Board or committee meeting. Governors attend, in-person, four Board meetings a year, plus one to two strategic events. There are usually a further three to four Sub-Committee meetings per year which are also in person. New Governors at Staffordshire serve an initial term of one year, to be converted to a full three-year term by mutual agreement. Currently, Governors are entitled to serve three terms of three years.

UK-Midlands

As part of its mission to be as inclusive as possible and to welcome diverse backgrounds and perspectives onto the Board, Staffordshire particularly encourages female candidates to apply as well as any other backgrounds which are under-represented. Governors should be passionate about the transformative role of education, with a commitment to fulfilling this role diligently. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.